irvine

A cycling race tactic is a specific plan by a single or group of riders in support of a particular strategy. The strategy is the overall game plan and the tactics are the many little movements it takes during the game to achieve the goals of your strategy. Plan A is to have a pre-race strategy. Plan B is to make Plan A work! All racing tactics can be categorized as follows;

NEGATIVE (Working against or attempting to undermine efforts of other teams or individuals – reacting to other riders moves and therefore works against your result)

The “BIG 5” race tactics:ATTACKING, BLOCKING, CHASING, BRIDGING and SPRINTING. I will send you specific sheets on these but 1st and foremost you need to fully understand the following;

Fundamental tactics that apply to every race:

Always remember what the overall planned strategy is. You can change tactics as long as it does not affect the strategy.

Never go to a race to lose unless either you or your team cannot physically support any kind of winning action – when you would then race to place (even if it is a ‘training’ race’)

Never chase your own teammate.

Never do your competition’s work for them

Never underestimate your competition’s strength.

Always try to toughen every race you enter.

Every ounce of energy you expend must be to your own or your teams’ benefit.

Racing aggressively is your best weapon.

No matter how hard you are hurting do not let anyone know i.e. look relaxed and SMILE

Fundamental facts that apply to every race are;

1)If you are not 30% stronger than the rider or group on your wheel then you should not be ahead of that rider or group unless you have a special purpose for pulling at that point.

2)Only 30% of a peleton, usually only the riders in the front 10 to 15, are a major factor during a bicycle race. The rest of the riders are

Sitting in to save it for the finish.

Barely strong enough to hold on at the back.

Injured or sick and are trying to recover.

These 3 groups of riders are most often the causes of crashes so if you want to increase your safety make certain that you ride in the front 1/3rd while at the same time staying off the front (unless you have a really good reason to be up there).

3)A break must have at least one team rider in it or it will almost certainly come back

4)The peleton will often lose focus on a break which is more than;

Women’s Cat 3/4, Juniors and Cat 4/5: 20 to 25 seconds ahead

Men’s Cat 3 Women’s Cat 1/2: 30 to 40 seconds ahead

Men’s Cat 1/2: 50-60 seconds ahead

Pros: Never

Learn to judge these times i.e. how long your lead has to be in order to stay away in a break